By Nick Jones | @Kernel_Nick

[email protected]

This weekend Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky., plays host to one of the most recognized showcases in all of high school basketball.

The Marshall County Hoopfest will be divided into three sessions over two days on Friday and Saturday and will feature several of the country’s top amateur players.

Many intriguing matchups will take place throughout the event, with each session featuring at least one name either set to attend UK or contemplating the decision.

Of those teams, Cats fans will have particular interest in UK signees Andrew and Aaron Harrison of Richmond Travis High in Texas.

On Friday, the Harrison twins, both top-five recruits in the 2013 class, will take on junior point guard Quentin Snider (a U of L commitment) and his Louisville Ballard Bruins. Fort Bend’s Saturday night matchup will be against Madison Central from Richmond.

The nation’s No. 1-ranked team, Huntington Prep in West Virginia, will play two games at Marshall County High School, challenging the reigning Tennessee state champion, Memphis East High School, on Friday, and Briarcrest Christian in the finale on Saturday.

Huntington Prep boasts a loaded roster that includes UK head coach John Calipari’s top priority for the 2013 class, No. 1-ranked Andrew Wiggins.

Another concern for UK’s coaching staff is five-star center Cliff Alexander of the 2014 class. Alexander’s Curie High School, out of Chicago, will play national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy of Mouth of Wilson, Va., Friday.

Oak Hill and Troy Williams, a former UK target who recently signed with Indiana, will complete their time at the Hoopfest with a Saturday night matchup with Southwind High School of Memphis, Tenn.

Another UK signee for the class of 2013, Derek Willis, will make the trip to Benton with his Bullitt East team. However, the 6-foot-9 forward will not be in action as he is currently serving a KHSAA protocol, two-game suspension after an ejection.

Schedule (Central Time)

Friday, Nov. 30 (Session 1)

4 PM Girls: Marshall Co. vs. Massac (IL)

5:30 PM Marshall Co. vs. Massac (IL)

7 PM Huntington Prep (WV) vs. Memphis East (TN)

8:30 PM Oak Hill (VA) vs. Curie (IL)

10 PM Ballard vs. Fort Bend Travis (TX)

Saturday, Dec. 1 (Session 2)

10 AM Girls: Marshall Co. vs. Mount Carmel (IL)

11:30 AM Graves Co. vs. Warren Central

1 PM Calloway Co. vs. Harrisburg (IL)

2:30 PM Hopkinsville vs. Bullitt East

Saturday, Dec. 1 (Session 3)

4:30 PM Marshall Co. vs. Wilson Central (TN)

6 PM Madison Central vs. Fort Bend Travis (TX)

7:30 PM Oak Hill (VA) vs. Southwind (TN)

9 PM Huntington Prep (WV) vs. Briarcrest Christian (TN)

Notable College Prospects

Huntington Prep: Andrew Wiggins, 2013 SF (UK target); Xavier-Rathan Mayes, 2013 SG (FSU commitment); Dominic Woodson, 2013 C (Baylor Commitment); Moses Kingsley, 2013 PF (Arkansas commitment); Travon Landry, 2013 PG (Tennessee commitment); Montaque Gill-Caesar, 2015 SF (possible UK target)

Fort Bend: Andrew Harrison, 2013 PG (UK commitment); Aaron Harrison, 2013 SG (UK commitment)

Ballard: Quentin Snider, 2014 PG (U of L commitment); Kelan Martin, 2014 SF; LaVonne Holland, 2013 SG

Curie: Cliff Alexander, 2014 C (UK target)

Bullitt East: Derek Willis, 2013 PF (UK commitment); Rusty Troutman, 2013 SF (Bellarmine commitment)

Memphis East: Nick King, 2013 SF (Memphis commitment)

Briarcrest Christian: Austin Nichols, 2013 PF (Memphis commitment)

Oak Hill: Troy Williams, 2013 SF (IU commitment); Sindarius Thornwell, 2013 SF (South Carolina commitment); Ikenna Iroegbu, 2013 PG (Washington State commitment)

Southwind: Johnathan Williams III, 2013 PF (Missouri commitment); JaJuan Johnson, 2013 SG (Marquette commitment)

Follow @Kernel_Nick